New Calif. Law Allows Teens to ‘Erase’ Bad Internet Postings

California now requires social media companies to provide ways for young users to delete embarrassing Internet postings.

The “erase bill” takes effect in January. It was signed into law this week by Gov. Jerry Brown, Fox News.com reports.

“This puts privacy in the hands of kids, teenagers and the parents, not under the control of an anonymous tech company,” James Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media in San Francisco, told Fox.

The regulation applies to apps and requires companies to disclose that minors have the right to erase postings, Fox reports, though it does not compel the providers to remove the content from their servers – which doesn’t prevent postings from being found.

The law is the first in the nation and comes in the absence of federal regulation, Fox reports.